New mom looking for advice

tresbouche
tresbouche Posts: 2 Member
edited November 2024 in Introduce Yourself
Hi! I'm the proud mom of a lil 3 month old and am in need of some fitness help. Key info:

-pre-pregnancy weighed 198, focused on strength training (deadlifting, weights) and did some martial arts.
-got up to 235 when I had my child, basically cut off all exercise due to paranoia
-now at around 188, mostly just lost weight due to breastfeeding and light cardio. diet's been jumpy as I take care of everything myself and my meals jumped around baby's schedule.

I want to start exercising again for muscle tone and have the strength and energy to be a good mom. However, I don't want to do anything too strenuous as it could affect my milk production, and I want baby to have good milk!

Anyone in a similar state or otherwise have advice? Also hard to figure out caloric amounts because I'm supposed to take in extra calories for breastfeeding. So my main problem: I don't have time to prep a lot of food, I already burn calories in producing milk, but I also want to exercise to grow strong as baby grows and to meet their needs.

Thanks!

Replies

  • maineapple
    maineapple Posts: 133 Member
    Congratulations on the new baby! I was allowed to start exercising at about 3 weeks after I had my first baby. One of the things to keep in mind is that you do not have to "eat for two" when you are breastfeeding. I breast fed both of my daughters and my physician told me that I only had to increase my daily calories by what is in a glass of milk, or about an additional 200 calories per day. I did find that I had to increase my intake of water though, and every time I sat down to nurse the baby I had an 8 oz. glass of water right beside me and drank it as the baby was nursing.

    The baby will have plenty of milk if you let the baby nurse on demand and as long as you get enough rest. Moms that try to do the housework and everything else when the baby naps are not doing themselves any favors. You should nap (or at least rest) as much as possible when the baby naps. I used lie down and nurse the baby and we would both take a nap together.

    You have probably found that the time between feedings increases as the baby gets bigger, so you don't feel like you are constantly nursing anymore. I recommend the books by the La Leche League if you want to read more information from the experts. I found them very helpful. Best wishes.
  • gettingittogether15
    gettingittogether15 Posts: 49 Member
    I agree with mainapple completely.

    I'll share with you some things I did to help get rid of baby weight...

    One thing that I started to do when my little ones were little was just wake up a little earlier to have some "me time." I would workout first thing and have a breakfast. When it came to eating, i just made sure I ate something every 2 hours, and for me I had to set a timer to remind myself to eat and would only eat at those 2 hour intervals.

    I have 5 kids, so prepping meals and having a total menu just for me is SO unrealistic. I just don't have the time and money for that! So I set a menu for the week of simple things. Oatmeal in the morning or an egg and toast with grapefruit, lunch would be salad with tuna or chicken and some crackers, snack - some baby carrots or apple and peanut butter and dinner - I would just eat what I prepared for the family and watched my portions by measuring. It's so important to drink lots of water and I took my prenatal vitamins while nursing. There are some other supplements to help milk production but as long as you don't over do it, don't stress yourself the milk will be great.
  • twiigo
    twiigo Posts: 39 Member
    Being a mommy takes up a big part of your day. My little guy is 4months and i was 209 before getting pregnant i was loosing weight and getting healthy. I wish i had mfp then. I was eating blind and excercising erractically. Now i schedule excercise and use my phone calander. I discovered a meal planning app, overnight oatmeal, and mason jar salads. I also don't beat my self up mentally it took me 9months to put on the extra pounds i know it will take time to take it off and i know i'm moving in the right direction. My goal weight is 150. 60+Lbs to loose. My mommy duties also include a teen, a preteen, and a preschooler. Moms can do amazing things including being healthy and active! You can do this!
  • tresbouche
    tresbouche Posts: 2 Member
    thanks so much for o the great responses! I think meal prep is the biggest thing for me to tackle--I started some light strength training and walk around the park with baby, plus the standard pick up and get up/down required for playing with them. ;)

    I'm in charge of housework, cooking, babying, etc., so I think I'll start using naptime to plan meals for the next couple of weeks. I'll spend one day cooking big meals and then freeze them for family? My mom used to do that.

    Thanks again! <3
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